Top Shelfie Picks + GIVEAWAY!

What fun would a top notch selfie be without the addition of a top shelfie?! Social media has taken the regular ol’ selfie and upgraded it to a product-driven top shelfie! If you haven’t seen this hashtag that’s overthrown the “favorites” product list on your Instagram feed, I’ll share with you my #topshelfie and I hope it inspires you to share yours!

So here it is, my current list of favorites . . . errr top shelfie products, and why I’m so swoon!

  • Circ- Cell: a) face rejuvenation serum– easily one of my holy grail products of the year, this silky formula is enriched with oxygen and algae complex. It visibly brightens and tones your skin, and contains sea fennel stem extract. My favorite part beyond the benefits, is that the scent is clean and light and Circ-Cell products are paraben free! b) rejuvenating eye serum– your eyes say it all baby. With this light and quickly absorbed serum, the appearance of puffiness and dark circles will be gone! Also enriched with oxygen and algae complex, your friends will wonder how you’re so dewy and glowy! shhhh 😀
  • Native natural deodorant: as you know I’ve tried many all-natural deodorants and this stood the test of sweat and stank! Coconut Vanilla and Lavender are my all time favorites btw! It won’t chafe you at all and will protect you against funkiness. But remember, your body needs some time to rid itself of those toxins, so be patient lil grasshoppa 😉
  • IT Cosmetics Confidence In A Compact: +SPF  50! I mean c’mon! So I’m one of those people who live for the “natural- but totally not natural – you can still see my pores” kinda look. This foundation IS that and contains their best selling Confidence In A Cream . . . do it! Buildable, smooth, and anything but cakey – this is one of my favorite products of the summer.
  • Coola Classic Sport SPF 50: a usual suspect in the line up of my go-to’s, this SPF is light, nourishing, goes well under your makeup, and is full of antioxidants! Coola products make it into my year round must haves.
  • OSEA Atmosphere Protection Cream: applied before my sunscreen and after my Circ-Cell, this hydrating cream helps to provide a protective barrier between my skin and the environment. Containing Shea Butter and Avocado Oil, it’s moisturizing without being greasy and won’t interfere with the yaaaaas queen of your makeup.

  • Dove Dry Shampoo: I have my friend Miya to thank for this one! It smells so clean and fresh and doesn’t leave behind any white residue or flakiness. I carry this in the car for after the gym or for before an event when I feel like I smell like scalp . . . you know what I mean 😉
  • Caudalie Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil: plant and essential oil based, this product is ONE of the TWO things I will NOT go to sleep without applying to my face . . . the other is my eye serum duh. Although it’s an oil it’s not greasy or sticky, it’s easily absorbed, and you’ll wake up feeling like newness.
  • Ange Ou Demon Perfume: if you’ve ever hugged me IRL, you know I covet smelling like an angel fallen from heaven fresh out the shower HAHA This perfume right here, it’s my signature scent! It’s sexy, subtle, flirty, and fun! A lil peppery- but I say, if it doesn’t make you sneeze than it’s not spicy enough 😉
  • Pur-lisse Blue Lotus + White Tea Sheet Mask: if you have skin than you need this! I’m all about preventative measures now so that I don’t have to worry about it later! We’re all gonna age y’all so lets do it gracefully! This is an all-natural fiber mask infused with Blue Lotus and restorative Asian botanicals. It packed full of antioxidants and you’ll go to sleep feeling like a brand new (and more youthful) you!

There you have it! My current favorites, go-to’s, and must have top shelfies! But wait, there’s more! Not only do I enjoy sharing with you what I love in these articles but I also love GIFTING them to you IRL!

I’m happy to announce that I’ll be doing a Circ-Cell giveaway where two of you will receive a travel sized skin care kit FULL of their best sellers! I hope you know that I would not promote anything I don’t already use myself and adore, so believe me when I say that I’m JEALOUS to mail these out haha

The giveaway will be done over on my Instagram page so please follow me over there, follow Circ-Cell, and comment on my last post ONE thing about your skin that you’d love to improve and ONE thing that you LOVE about yourself!

I’ll choose two winners and announce them this Saturday! Good luck and I love thee and yo beautiful self!

Have you tried any of the products I listed here today? What products made it into your #topshelfie list this month? 

 

 

 

 

 

COACHELLA ESSENTIAL MAKEUP SKINCARE PACKING LIST!

We’re in the final weekend of Coachella 2017 so I thought today I’d hook you up with my top 5 makeup and skincare essentials for your Coachella packing list! You’re not only going to be dancing in the desert, swinging under the sun and sky, and walking for miles each day, but NOW you’re gonna be prepared for all of it!

PURPLE TALE MASKS

You’re only 5 simple steps away from absolutely LOVING the skin you’re in! With the wind, the dirt, the dust, and the sun weathering you all day this weekend, you’ll definitely need this 5 step system to bring your face back to life! *you’ll get 10% off your next order if you sign up for their email list

K&K SEA SALT TEXTURE SPRAY

This sea salt spray is making a come back because I use it ALL the time! It smells like a vacation and will give your locks some body and movement! Extra point for it’s coconut sexy scent that will refresh your do after a day of struttin in the sand!

LAURA MERCIER LIGHT STRUCK

This festival season we’ve seen a lot of highlighter, glitter, and glittered highlighter! 😉 We’re obsessed with this Laura Mercier lightstruck prismatic glow palette. This cream highlighter is super light, blendable, and highly pigmented to give you that fresh Coachillin soul glow baby!

HANALEI LIP TREATMENT 

Don’t neglect your pout it’ll be lip syncing all through the weekend! With kukui oil and grape seed oil, this lip balm adds sheen while moisturizing! Yes please!

PROPLENISH COLLAGEN SATCHETS

Hydrate from the inside out why dontcha! Proplenish is my favorite collagen supplement, a powder that you can pour into any drink (I put it in my tea with fresh lemon!) and it will restore and replenish your skin from within! Do it, you’ll see the difference within a week!

Did you go to Coachella this year? What was your favorite performance?! What was your number one favorite product to pack?! Share! 

 

 

 

 

VALENTINES DAY READY!

I’m so excited to share that you can finally shop my posts directly and see what products I’m currently using in my featured videos! You’ve perhaps seen this utilized by other creators on Instagram and Facebook, so if you aren’t on DubCandy already, download it (it’s free!) and add me! I’m jess_lizama over there just like on all of my other platforms. I’m sharing my most recent videos over there!

This week I have for you a Valentine’s day cocktail (Cupid’s Kiss to be exact), a ‘day to night out’ makeup look, and the worlds quickest and easiest flat-iron ‘beachy waves’ tutorial!

If you’ve already explored the app and shopped people’s posts and videos, please share them with me so I can see what everyone is most interested in these days! I’d love to know if you’d like to see more beauty stuff from me, or cooking and travel . . . let me know and I’ll recruit my Corriney to help me post more frequently on there! I love being able to link you to the things I’ve tried and tested, and I hope you enjoy these and it makes it easier for you to peruse the items I feature:D


Do you like posts where you can shop the products featured or do you feel distracted by the option? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FTC: I am an affiliate with DubCandy but the products I feature and the opinions expressed here are mine. As always I’ll continue to share with you the things I truly use and love, and always in my honest opinion.

GET READY WITH ME – YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY LOOK!

‘Tis the season and it’s my most favorite time of year! With all of the holiday gatherings, ugly sweater parties, white elephant gift exchanges, and office celebrations, I thought I’d share my favorite holiday look with you! It’s super easy and I hope you like this glittery creation!

This is my video tutorial, step by step. Do you like these fast paced tutorials or would you prefer a real-time version with voice over instructions? Let me know in the comments 😀

Featuring these products in order of appearance:

Sephora makeup primer, NARS foundation, Beauty blender, Maybelline concealer, Sephora contour pen, Besame setting powder, Brow Gal brow palette, Brow Gal brow gel, Pop Magnetic setting mist, Kevin Aucoin eye lash curler, Stila liquid eyeliner, IT Cosmetics mascara, Ciate + Olivia Palermo palette, Lit glitter set, Makeup Forever pencil liner, Milani blush, Sephora lip liner, Ciate lipstick, Becca highlighter in Opal 

Happy holidays and please follow along on my YouTube channel for #Vlogmas! We video blog every day until Christmas!

 

Are you Christmas ready? Have you done all of your gift shopping? I haven’t even started eeeek! 

 

BEST SKIN CARE PRODUCTS – MY ROUTINE

Okay so disclaimer; this isn’t for the faint of heart or the ‘all-in-one-step’ kind of regimen, because even for me this feels daunting! But we’re doing it! Lets be real though- I’m middle aged folks! Ewww who even says that out loud?! Haha I do and this is what 35 looks like. Don’t think I’ve ever even said that out loud here but honestly I’m just confirming everyone’s math with my ’16 and pregnant’ story and then calculating my daughter’s age, she’s 18 yowza. But I don’t even care because I feel better now, in my own skin than I ever did at 25! Crazy right?! So I want to share my secrets, tried and trusted methods with you- from my skincare, to stuff we already know but maybe don’t yet do.

Although a big part of the way we age is attributed to genetics, it’s also about skin care, lifestyle, and acceptance (lol that last bit is for myself!). We’re all going to age, it’s a part of life, and wrinkles and fine lines around our eyes show that we’ve lived happily and laughed often, BUUUUT I’ll be damned if I don’t go out without a fight aka preventative measures! So I’ve been doing the following steps since I was 19 and my mom became a Mary Kay consultant… and then so did I! I’ve included price points from drug store products I like to high end brands.

 

CLEANSE

Even in my laziest, drunkest, most sleepiest of moments, I’ll ALWAYS take off my makeup. Always always always. If I can tell you ONE thing, it’s never to sleep in your makeup. I like to keep makeup remover wipes by my bed so that no matter what, I can just reach over, snag a wipe, and robotically wipe the day away without even having to get out of bed. Snaps for sleeps and no pants. Makeup remover wipes, Neutrogena wash, Fresh Soy Cleanser 


TONE

Applying a toner to my skin after I’ve cleansed it is a step that I don’t think I started doing until a few years ago because it was under rated. However, toners remove residual make up, dirt, and oil from your face that cleanser left behind. Put some on a cotton round and see the grime that comes off that you didn’t even think was possible. Witch hazel, Kate Somerville, Simple & soothing, Skin Laundry 

SERUMSThink of serums as the red rope between your products and the deeper layers of your skin. They also contain a higher concentration of active ingredients so it’s like a helpful bouncer that also helps your products be more effective! It’s especially helpful to use a serum if you have fine lines, scarring, or acne. Hyaluronic Acid Serum (my all time holy grail of serums), Magic stripes, Vitamin C

HYDRATE
After you’ve applied your serum you’ll want to hydrate with a light yet effective moisturizer. I have extremely dry skin so this step is definitely needed for me, but if you have oily or acne prone skin I don’t necessarily think this step is a must for you. Just remember the more you strip your skin of moisture (try not to use alcohol based products), the more it will over produce oil hence causing more breakouts and more oillll. Embryolisse, Olay, Mario Badescu, Acure

 

PROTECT

The NUMBER ONE contributing factor to premature aging of your skin is the sun. Second is the way you sleep … yaaas I know! More on that later. Remember that UVA protects you from AGING rays and UVB protects you from BURNING rays. So I love using a full spectrum SPF and these are some of my faves: COOLA (mineral based woot!), Clarins, Shiseido, Neutrogena

 

EYE CREAM EYE CREAM EYE CREAM!!!
Can you tell I’m really all about eye cream?! The eyes have it baby, no matter what, your eyes and your hands will reveal all the things. The skin around our eyes is the thinnest of all our face, hence we age their the quickest, and why we get pesky fine lines and wrinkles there first because, thin skin. The tricky part of using eye cream is to find one that you can use around your entire eye not just underneath it. Most eye creams are designed to thicken the skin which you don’t want to have on your upper eye lid, so either apply it only beneath your lower lashes or use a cream designed for your entire eye like Algenist 360. Remember to use your ring finger (it’s the weakest and has the most padding … go ahead give it a feel) and to pat pat pat, in and up towards your nose. Never drag your skin out and down. Think “defy gravity baby cells”! I know I sound insano but I promise, this is the way. THE ONLY WAY *said in evil voice, but with a smile: Algenist 360, Shiseido, Mario Badescu, Garnier

EXFOLIATE Ok last one I promise! For now at least 😀 I like to exfoliate my skin 3 times a week. Sounds like a lot but I started off with once a week and then worked my way up to 3. You definitely don’t want to over exfoliate your face but exfoliation is imperative for skin renewal and cell turnover. As we age we lose collagen in our skin (and we produce less of it like why?!), those are the proteins that give us firmness and shape, ya know- taking our raisin like cells and plumping them up into big ol’ grapes! Clinique, Kate Somerville, Clarasonic, Tatcha

 

Alrighty, that’s it!!! Those are the steps I take daily. Daily y’all! There are other things I do too, like night treatments, skin masks, facials, hydration, lifestyle blah blah blahs but I’ll stop there for now because honestly it doesn’t matter what you do so long as you take up a simple skincare regimen and play it on repeat. 

I have to say this for myself, but for you too if ever it feels like you’re feelin like your skin has lost it’s luster. We CAN age gracefully! BUT we shouldn’t put so much emphasis on how young we look or how youthful our skin is. C’est la vie baby. But hey, this is also coming from the girl who just wrote a book on skincare for you here lol

Is there anything here you weren’t using before that you saw here and will start implementing? What is your favorite skin care product?!

 

DIY DAILY BRUSH CLEANER – HOW TO PREVENT BREAKOUTS!

Looking back, as a teenager I thought I had terrible skin. I mean I broke out like any normal hormone-raged, pubescent teen would but I really thought I had a problem. Like, I made my dad buy me acne pills and I tried every face wash you could think of. I was 12 and no medication or face astringent on the planet could do away with my breakouts. Now as an adult, I’m breaking out and it’s unlike a normal adult woman should. The only difference between then and now is that I knew then what was triggering my breakouts.

By process of elimination I realized that my problem was that I wasn’t cleaning my cosmetic brushes AND makeup enough. I was doing everything I needed to in terms of keeping my skin clean, but I was being pretty lazy when it came to daily maintenance of the products that touch my skin every dang day. Imagine the bacteria . . . ewww gross.  S0 today I’m sharing with you my DIY daily brush spritz and a super simple way to deep cleanse your brushes weekly. So for the daily brush spritz you’ll need an empty spray bottle, mineral water, alcohol, your favorite essential oil, and some cotton balls or paper towels.
– fill the spray bottle 70% full of water and then fill it up another 30% with alcohol
– add in 9-11 drops of your favorite essential oil (I love lavender!), give it a good shake and then spray a few spritzes onto a paper towel or tissue paper and swirl your brushes around (in a back and forth motion) until they’re clean.
– air dry

*the alcohol will cleanse and disinfect your brushes, the essential oil will recondition them since alcohol is very drying and pungent, and the water will help to dilute the mixture and the alcohol. You can use this method daily to give your brushes a nice quick cleaning so that during the week you aren’t reintroducing old makeup and bacteria onto your skin, hence the pesky breakouts.

About once a week or so I’ll deep cleanse my brushes since even my daily cleanser isn’t always enough. Most makeup shampoos can be a bit pricey especially if you’re washing up to 20 brushes! *raises hand* so I’m bringing back an old favorite that you may have seen before!
For this DIY brush shampoo/conditioner you’ll need a mild shampoo, olive oil, and a plate for mixing. Simple right?!
– pour equal parts of the shampoo and olive oil onto the plate and use your brush to combine the mixture and to saturate the bristles with the combination
– use the palm of your hand to swirl the brush around and create suds (back and forth and swirls onto your palm) until you’ve gotten most of the pigment out
– run the brush under tepid water until the water runs clear and your brushes are clean
– reshape the brush and then lay them flat or at least bristles down, so that they air dry without allowing the water to enter the handle of the brush and rusting your goods

*the shampoo is effective yet mild enough to deep cleanse your brushes weekly and the olive oil with recondition them

Don’t forget to disinfect your makeup and tools at least once a week also! So your pressed powders, palettes, and tools should all get a nice lil alcohol bath simply using alcohol and a cotton round. This will keep your makeup clean and your skin clean too!

To see all of this in action check out the tutorial I did on my YouTube channel and please subscribe if you haven’t already! I love doing stuff like this!

How often do you clean your brushes, makeup, and tools?! Do you fellas out there clean your stuff too? You totally should!